Lighter



.Filed July 1, 1968 Oct 9 KucmRo sH'uTo 3,533,713

LIGHTER 2 snee s-s eet 1 I3 S I INVENTO R 1 .KHCHIRO SHUTO Oct. 1 3, 1970 I k c c sl-n 'rq 3,533,718

LIGHTER Filed July 1, 1-968 ZShe'ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KIICHIRO SHUTO' I ORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,533,718 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Int. Cl. Fix- 2/16 US. Cl. 431-254 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A manually operable lighter for igniting a gas to produce a flame suitable for lighting cigarettes or the like. A burner nozzle means of the lighter normally assumes a closed position and is movable from its closed position to an open position where a combustible gas issues therefrom. A manually operable ignition means ignites the gas issuing from the nozzle means and is movable from a given rest position when actuated, a motion-transmitting means transmitting motion from the ignition means to the nozzle means to displace the latter to its open position when the ignition means is actuated. A manually releasable lock means coacts with one of the latter means to maintain the nozzle in its open position until the lock means is released, whereupon the parts return to their initial positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to lighters.

In particular, the present invention relates to that type of lighter which is used for lighting cigarettes or the like and which burns a combustible gas.

With conventional lighters of this type it is necessary for the operator to maintain an operating lever manually in a given position as long the gas burns to produce a flame. This requirement of manual maintenance of the burner in an operating position is a great inconvenience. This is particularly true with lighters which do not have a lid for the burner nozzle from which the combustible gas issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a lighter construction which will avoid this drawback.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighter capable of remaining in a position where a flame issues therefrom without'requiring any particular action on the part of the operator.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighter of this type which can be very simply manipulated to place the lighter in a condition where the flame is extinguished.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighter which is composed of an exceedingly simple and compact assembly of components capable of accomplishing these objects.

In accordance with the invention the lighter has a burner nozzle means which normally assumes a closed position and which is movable from its closed position to an open position where a combustible gas issues from the burner nozzle means. A manually operable ignition means coacts with the nozzle means to ignite the gas which issues therefrom when the nozzle means is in its open position. A guide means coacts with the ignition means to guide the latter for movement from a given rest position in a predetermined direction when the ignition means is actuated to ignite the gas issuing from the nozzle means. A motiontransmitting means coacts with the ignition means and the nozzle means to move the latter to its open position when the ignition means moves from its rest position when actuated by the operator. A spring means coacts with the ignition means to yieldable maintain the latter in its rest position so that the ignition means is moved in opposition to this spring means when actuated to ignite the gas. The ignition means to yieldably maintain the latter in its rest means form a group of interacting means which ignite the combustible gas to provide a flame when the ignition means is actuated. A manually releasable lock means co acts with one of the group of means to lock the nozzle means in its open position until the lock means is manually released whereupon the nozzle means again assumes its closed position thus terminating the issue of the combustible gas and extinguishing the flame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of a lighter according to the invention showing the upper part thereof where the components of the invention are located;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 with the top wall of a cover removed from FIG. 2 to illustrate clearly the parts therebeneath;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation in the same plane as FIG. 1 showing the components of FIG. 1 at a smaller scale and illustrating the entire lighter; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the lighter as seen from the left of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the structure illustrated includes a burner unit 1 mounted on a supporting structure 2 made of a plastic material. The burner 1 includes a nozzle means 3 which is movable from the lower closed position thereof illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 axially to an upper open position. An unillustrated spring within the unit 1 urges the nozzle 3 to its lower closed position while normal closed position. When the nozzle means 3 is dis placed upwardly the valve opens and a combustible gas issues upwardly through and beyond the nozzle means 3.

The unit 1 further includes a rotary flame-adjusting member 4 having a toothed periphery received at the toothed inner circumference of a ring 6 fixedly carrying a radially extending control rod 5 which extends to the exterior of the lighter through a horizontal slot in the metal cover 23, so that in a well known manner the operator may turn the rod 5 about the axis of the nozzle 3 to turn the adjusting element 4 for adjusting the size of the flame.

The plastic supporting member 2 is. formed with a bore 7 having a closed bottom end and an open top end and receiving the lower portion of an ignition means 8 which is manually operable. A coil spring 9 is seated at the closed bottom end of the bore 7 and acts on the manually operable ignition means 8 to maintain the latter yieldably at the rest position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. p The ignition means '8 is surrounded at the region of itslower end with an O-ring 10 made of rubber and capable of sliding along the inner cylindrical surface of the bore 7 with a friction sufficient to prevent the ignition means 8 from'falling even when the lighter is turned upside down.

Thus, the bore 7 and ring form a guide means guiding the ignition means for movement from its illustrated rest position in opposition to the force of the spring means formed by the spring 9. This movement of the ignition means 8 will take place in opposition to the spring means 9 when the operator actuates the ignition means 8. When the operator releases the ignition means 8 the spring means 9 expands to return the ignition means to its rest position.

Between the ignition means 8 and burner nozzle means 3 is a motion-transmitting means for transmitting movement of the ignition means 8, when it is manually actuated, to the nozzle means 3 for moving the latter from its closed to its open position. This motion-transmitting means is shown in the form of a lever 11 in the form of a plate having at its right free end, as viewed in FIGS. l-3, a notch which receives a stem of the nozzle means v3 beneath a downwardly directed shoulder of the latter. Therefore, when this right free end of the lever 11 swings upwardly, the nozzle means 3 will be displaced to its open position. The ignition means 8 has an upper 'U-shaped portion provided with side walls which support for rotary movement elements referred to below. Beneath this U-shaped portion, the ignition means 8 has a downwardly extending part which extends into the bore 7 and through an opening 13 which is formed in the lever 11, this opening 13 being smaller than the lower Wall of the U-shaped upper part of the ignition means 8 but extending with clearance around the lower elongated stem of the ignition means 8, as is shown most clearly in FIG. 1. The support means 2 includes between the ignition means 8 and the nozzle means 3 an upwardly directed elongated, lip 12 extending transversely across the lever 11 at the un derside thereof so that the lever 11 is fulerummed by this lip 12 for swinging movement about an axis which extends perpendicularly across the lever 11 and which is perpendicular to the vertical, parallel directions of movement of the ignition means 8 and nozzle means 3.

With this construction it is clear that the ignition means '8, the motion-transmitting means 11, and the nozzle means 3 form a group of interacting means which Will provide ignition of the gas issuing from the nozzle 3 when the ignition means 8 is actuated. A manually-releasable lock means is provided in accordance with the invention to coact with one of this group of interacting means for maintaining the nozzle 3 in its open position until manual release of the lock means, whereupon the nozzle means 3 can again automatically assume its normal closed position, returning the lever 11 also to its initial position shown 7 in FIGS. 1 and 3. Of course, as soon as the operator releases the ignition means '8, the spring 9 expands to return it to its rest position.

The releasable lock means includes a lock lever 15 swingable about a pin 16 carried by an extension 17 of the support means 2 formed by the plastic body having the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. It will be noted that the pin 16 extends parallel to the lip 12, so that the lock lever 15 and motion-transmitting means 11 are respectively mounted for swinging movement about parallel axes which extend perpendicular to the direction of movement of the ignition means 8 and the nozzle means 3, with the axis of turning of the lever 11 situated between the ignition means 8 and the nozzle means 3 while the axis of turning of the lock lever 15 is situated at the side of the ignition means 8 opposite from the side thereof where the nozzle means 3 is located.

The lever 11 has a catch portion over which the tooth at the upper end of the lock lever 15 is adapted to snap, so that the motion-transmitting means is that one of the group of interacting means 8, 11, and 3 with which the manually-releasable lock means coacts in the illustrated example. This catch portion of the lever 11 takes the form of a free end portion 14 thereof which is of L-shaped configuration forming at the left end of the lever 11 an edge over which the lock tooth at the upper end of the lever 15 can snap. For this purpose the releasable lock means includes a leaf spring 18 urging the lever 15 to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Thus, whenever the ignition means 8 is actuated because of the downward pressure exerted thereon by the operator, the ignition means 8 will swing the lever 11 about the fulcrum 12 to raise the nozzle 3 to its open position, and at the same time the catch portion 14 will be displaced downwardly so that the locking tooth of the lever 15 will snap thereover to maintain the lever 11 in its position where it maintains the nozzle 3 open. The manually releasable lock means includes a pushbutton 19 fixed to and extending from the lower end of the lever 15. This push-button 19 extends to the exterior of the lighter through an opening in the cover 23 so as to be accessible to the operator. Thus, whenever the ignition means is actuated the gas issuing through the open nozzle will be ignited and at the same time the nozzle will be maintained in its open position by the lock means without any manipulations being required on the part of the operator for this purpose. The operator need not, for example, maintain an actuating lever depressed in order to maintain the flame of the burner. Whenever it is desired to extinguish the flame the operator need only push on the button 19 so as to swing the lever 15 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, with the result that the nozzle 3 will be urged by the spring within the unit 1 back to its closed position and the nozzle 3 will itself now act on the lever 11 to return the latter to its rest position where the catch 14 is above the lower surface of the tooth of the lever 15 so that the latter will return to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the parts have now resumed their rest positions and are ready to be actuated again.

The upwardly directed parallel side walls of the U- shaped portion of the ignition means 8 support a shaft on which a knurled wheel 20 is supported for rotary movement, and this wheel 20 is operatively connected with drive wheels 21 which also are supported for free rotary movement. The operator will engage the drive wheels 21 to turn the knurled wheel 20, and since the operator must press against the wheels 21 at the upper regions thereof, the ignition means 8 will necessarily be depressed in opposition to the spring 9 by the operator. The knurled Wheel 20 coacts with an un-illustrated flint which by the friction of the knurled wheel creates the sparks which ignite the gas which issues from the nozzle 3.

The metal cover 23 surrounds the support means formed by the plastic body 2 so as to house the latter, and the top wall of the metal cover 23 is formed with an opening through which the drive Wheels 21 are freely accessible. Also, the top wall of the cover 23 is formed with an opening 24 through which the flame issues. At its right side wall, as viewed in FIG. 1, the cover 23 is formed with an opening 25 through which combustion air can enter to mix with the fuel for maintaining the flame.

As may be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the supporting body 2 is fixed to and covers the top end of a hollow body 22 which forms a fuel tank 26. The bottom wall of the body 22 is provided with a conventional injection valve 27 surrounded be a sealing washer 28, so that through this valve 27 the supply of fuel can be replenished Whenever required. A cover 29, made of any suitable metal, covers the bottom end of the body 22 which may be made of a transparent plastic.

The operation of the lighter is apparent from the above description. It is apparent that a simple actuation and release of the ignition means 8 will result in production of a flame which will be maintained without any operations being required by the operator for this purpose. Extinguishing the flame is etfected by a single simple operation, namely pushing the button 19, so that the creation and maintenance of the flame requires no special operations on the part of the operator while extinguishing is effected by simple actuation of a push-button.

Furthermore it will be seen that with the structure of the invention the nozzle means 3 is in a permanently un covered condition communicating freely at all times with the outer atmosphere, through the openings 24 and 25, so that a movable lid or other closure is not required by the lighter of the inventionIn the same way the manually operable ignition means 8 is at all times in a permanently uncovered condition where it is freely accessible, so that a movable cover structure such as a swingable or slidable lid is not required to cover and uncover the manually operable ignition means. In this way the structure is considerably simplified and its cost reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighter, burner nozzle means normally asuming a closed position and movable from said closed position to an open position where a combustible gas issues from said nozzle means, said nozzle means having a permanently uncovered condition where it communicates at all times freely with the outer atmosphere, manually operable ignition means coacting with said nozzle means for igniting the gas issuing therefrom when said nozzle means is in said open position, said manually operable ignition means also having a permanently uncovered condition where it is freely accessible at all times to the operator, guide means coacting with said manually operable ignition means for guiding the latter for movement from a rest position in a given direction when said ignition means is manually actuated to ignite a gas issuing from said nozzle means, spring means coacting with said ignition means for yieldably maintaining the latter at said rest position thereof, said ignition means being manually displaced in opposition to said spring means in said given direction when manually actuated, motion-transmitting means coacting with said ignition means and nozzle means for moving the latter from said closed to said open position when said ignition means is displaced from said rest position in said given direction in opposition to said spring means, said ignition means, motion-transmitting means, and burner nozzle means forming a group of interacting means which bring about ignition of the gas issuing from said nozzle means upon actuation of said ignition means, and manually releasable lock means coacting with one of said group of means for maintaining said nozzle means in said open position until said lock means is manually released whereupon said nozzle means automatically assumes its normally closed position, thus extinguishing a flame resulting from combustion of a gas issuing from said nozzle means and terminating the issue of the gas from said nozzle means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said motiontransmitting means is in the form of a lever having spaced portions coacting with said ignition means and nozzle means and fulcrummed between said spaced portions for moving said nozzle means to its open position in response to movement of said ignition means in said given direction from said rest position thereof.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said lock means coacts with said lever.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said lock means coacts with said motion-transmitting means.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said nozzle means is axially movable along a straight path between said closed and open positions thereof, said guide means guiding said ignition means for movement along a straight path parallel to the path of movement of said nozzle means.

6. In a lighter, burner nozzle means normally assuming a closed position and movable from said closed position to an open position where a combustible gas issues from said nozzle means, manually operable ignition means coacting with said nozzle means for igniting the gas issuing therefrom when said nozzle means is in said open position, guide means coacting with said manually operable ignition means for guiding the latter for movement from a rest position in a given direction when said ignition means is manually actuated to ignite a gas issuing from said nozzle means, spring means coacting with said ignition means for yieldably maintaining the latter at said rest position thereof, said ignition means being manually displaced in opposition to said spring means in said given direction when manually actuated, motion-transmitting means coacting with said ignition means and nozzle means for moving the latter from said closed to said open position When said ignition means is displaced from said rest position in said given direction in opposition to said spring means, said ignition means, motion-transmitting means, and burner nozzle means forming a group of interacting means which bring about ignition of the gas issuing from said nozzle means upon actuation of said ignition means, and manually releasable lock means coacting with one of said group of means for maintaining said nozzle means in said open position until said lock means is manually released whereupon said nozzle means automatically assumes its normally closed position, thus extinguishing a flame resulting from combustion of a gas issuing from said nozzle means and terminating the issue of the gas from said nozzle means, said motion-transmitting means being in the form of a lever having spaced portions coacting with said ignition means and nozzle means and fulcrummed between said spaced portions for moving said nozzle means to its open position in response to movement of said ignition means in said given direction from said rest position thereof, said lock means coacting with said lever, said lever having a catch portion acted upon by said lock means, and said lock means having a tooth which snaps over said catch portion of said lever when said nozzle means has reached said open position thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said lock means is in the form of a lock lever terminating at one end in said tooth and including a spring acting on said lock lever to urge said tooth to snap over said catch portion, and a push-button carried by said lock lever to be pushed by the operator for moving said tooth away from said catch portion to release said nozzle means for return to its closed position.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said catch portion of said lever of said motion-transmitting means is formed by an L-shaped part thereof.

-9. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said catch portion is situated at a side of said ignition means opposite from a side thereof where said nozzle means is situated.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said lock lever, said ignition means, and said nozzle means all extend in the same general directions, respectively, and are substantially parallel to each other with said ignition means situated between said nozzle means and lock lever, while said lever of said motion-transmitting means extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said lock lever, said ignition means, and said nozzle means, the fulcrum of said lever of said motion-transmitting means and the turning axis of said lock lever being parallel to each other and extending perpendicularly with respect to both of said levers and said ignition means and nozzle means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,522 9/1964 Court 431-254 X 3,213,647 10/ 1964 Sakamoto 431-254 X 3,439,994 4/1965 Cassam 43 l254 EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 431-277 

